Charles McGhee has been appointed editor of Glasgow-based newspaper The Herald.

He starts his new role immediately, joining from sister paper the Evening Times, where he had been editor since August 1999.

Before joining the Evening Times Charles had spent a year as consultant editor for the Sunday Herald, helping with the launch of the paper.

He has also held the positions of deputy editor of the Daily Record and Sunday Mail as well as senior editorial executive roles on Scotland on Sunday, Sunday Times Scotland and Today newspaper. Charles is the current UK president of the Society of Editors.

He said: "It will be a privilege to edit The Herald which is one of the oldest newspapers in the English-speaking world and one which is held in the highest regard both within and outside Scotland.

"My role will be to maintain and enhance The Herald's outstanding reputation for quality journalism and to implement a product development programme that will help the newspaper to meet the changing needs of our readers in the 21st century."

Tim Blott, managing director of Newsquest (Herald and Times) said: "Charles is an excellent editor and has done a fantastic job with the Evening Times.

"Despite a very strong field of internal and external candidates, Charles produced some great ideas on how The Herald can develop and improve in a highly-competitive newspaper market."

The Herald has a daily circulation of 74,328. It is currently broadsheet but there is wide speculation that could soon change.

Charles replaces Mark Douglas-Home who left the paper in December.